Cracked Teeth
Cracked Teeth show a variety of symptoms including erratic pain when chewing, possibly with release of biting pressure, or pain when your tooth is exposed to temperature extremes. The pain may come and go and the offending tooth may be very difficult to locate.
Craze Lines
Craze Lines are tiny cracks that affect only the outer enamel. Craze lines are very shallow and do not cause pain.
Chipped or Fractured Teeth
When a cusp (the pointed part of the chewing surface of a tooth) becomes weakened, a fracture may result. The weakened cusp may break off by itself or may have to be removed by the dentist. A fractured cusp rarely damages the pulp so root canal treatment is seldom needed.
Sometimes, however, a tooth can fracture in such a way that the dental pulp is exposed. Root Canal therapy may be necessary in situations such as these.
On occasion, a tooth can fracture in such a way that little tooth structure is left above the gumline to support a crown. Elective endodontic treatment (root canal therapy) may be required to allow your dentist to place a post in the root which can support a core buildup that a new crown can be cemented to.
Dislodged Teeth
During an injury, a tooth may be pushed sideways, into, or out of its socket. Your endodontist may need to re-position and stabilize your tooth. Depending upon the degree of dislodgement, root canal therapy may be needed
Knocked-out Teeth
If a tooth is completely knocked out of your mouth, time is of the essence. The tooth should be handled very gently avoiding touching the root surface. If possible the tooth should be placed back into the socket as soon as possible. The less time a tooth is out of the socket, the better the chance of saving it.
If you cannot put the tooth back in the socket, it needs to be kept moist with a special solution that can be bought at the drugstore. Milk is a very good alternative! This will keep the root cells alive for a few hours. Avoid transporting the tooth dry and likewise, avoid placing the tooth in water.
Your endodontist can correctly reposition and stabilize the knocked out tooth. Root Canal treatment will typically be necessary within a relatively short period of time after the injury. Oftentimes, these knocked out teeth can be saved.
Vertical Root Fractures
Vertical root fractures are cracks that begin in the root of the tooth and extend toward the chewing surface. Vertical root fractures are often discovered when the surrounding bone and gum become infected. Treatment may involve extraction of the tooth. Root canal therapy can sometimes be appropriate, however, if a portion of the tooth can be saved by removal of the fractured root.
